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Panic posted the announcement Monday (June 6) on their official site, hinting that creative differences may have caused the split between Ross, Walker and the remaining bandmembers: frontman Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith. “Though the four of us have made music together in the past, we’ve creatively evolved in different directions, which has compromised what each of us want to personally achieve,” the statement read in part. “Over the years, we have remained close and honest with each other, which helped us to realize that our goals were different and that parting ways is truly what is best for… Read more »

Musicians Ryan Ross and Jon Walker, both of Panic at the Disco fame, are leaving the band behind according to a posting on Panic’s Web site: Ryan Ross and Jon Walker will be leaving Panic at the Disco to embark on a musical excursion of their own. Though the four of us have made music together in the past, we’ve creatively evolved in different directions which has compromised what each of us want to personally achieve. Over the years, we have remained close and honest with each other, which helped us to realize that our goals were different and that… Read more »

TV stations across the U.S. started cutting their analog signals Friday morning, ending a 60-year run for the technology and likely stranding more than 1 million unprepared homes without TV service. The Federal Communications Commission put 4,000 operators on standby for calls from confused viewers, and set up demonstration centers in several cities. Volunteer groups and local government agencies were helping elderly viewers set up digital converter boxes that keep older TVs functioning. Any set hooked up to cable or a satellite dish is unaffected. “When you’re alone like me, that’s my partner,” Patricia Bruchalski, 82, said about her TV.… Read more »

California’s Supreme Court upheld the state’s gay marriage ban Tuesday but said the 18,000 same-sex weddings that took place before the prohibition passed are still valid – a ruling decried by gay rights activists as a hollow victory. Demonstrators outside the court booed, wept and yelled, “Shame on you!” Activists said they would go back to the voters as early as next year in a bid to repeal the ban. In a 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George, the court rejected arguments that the ban approved by the voters last fall was such a fundamental change in the… Read more »

In between bites of a Cobb salad at New York’s Tribeca Grand Hotel, Gwen Stefani is explaining why No Doubt is going on tour for the first time in five years without a new album to promote. “Honestly, it’s procrastination,” she says with a sigh. “My plan was to get pregnant and write a record, but instead of writing, I just ate all the time.” Stefani laughs as she pops a tomato in her mouth. “Writing is always really hard for me – I hate it and hate it and then I do it, and I’m happy it’s done,” she… Read more »

For Taking Back Sunday, New Again is more than an album title, it’s a declaration. “We kicked around a bunch of different titles, but that one always remained the top of the list, and that’s because it really does feel like a new band,” vocalist Adam Lazzara said. Taking Back Sunday is not turning their collective back on what is already a storied past. The rejuvenated group is looking clearly to the here and now. “Leading up to this record we took the biggest break that we’ve taken since we started touring just to kind of learn how to be… Read more »

Despite the success of online retailers, explosion of Internet downloads and high-profile closings of Virgin Megastores and Tower Records stores, bricks-and-mortar record stores are not all spinning toward oblivion. Although hundreds of independent music retailers have gone out of business in recent years, about 2,000 are still around, and many are thriving. The survivors will celebrate Saturday, as acts such as Erykah Badu and Franz Ferdinand gather to pay homage to the hometown record store. Record Store Day was the idea of Chris Brown, a music guru from Bull Moose, a chain of 10 record stores in Maine and New… Read more »

Internet-only radio is rapidly gaining acceptance as another way to listen to music, according to a national survey that American Media Services released yesterday. The latest AMS Radio Index shows that 27 percent of Americans say they have listened to Internet-only radio on an Internet site. This includes 47 percent of young adults 18-24 and about a third of those under the age of 50. But even as new media, such as Internet-only radio, continue to gain in popularity, regular radio is maintaining its audience. In the latest AMS survey, 73 percent said they are listening to the radio about… Read more »

Earlier this month, tabloids began reporting that Katy Perry and Rihanna had become “inseparable” following the alleged February 8 altercation between the “Umbrella” singer and her boyfriend, Chris Brown. According to a source quoted by U.K. tabloid The Sun, Perry “was there when Rihanna needed her the most,” reaching out to her and taking her out for nights on the town (there were even rumors of a planned Puerto Rican vacation). Until now, Perry had remained silent on those reports, but when MTV News caught up with her on Wednesday, she talked about her relationship with the embattled pop star.… Read more »